Pirates beat Two Rivers 36-0DOVER -- The Dover Pirates mercy ruled the Two Rivers Gators 36-0 on Friday at Jack Berry Field. Pirates head coach Greg Smith said he got a different look defensively than he expected, but his team did a good job making adjustments. "We wanted to come out and establish the running game, and we did," Smith said. "They gave us a different look than we expected, but our offensive line understood and we were very effective offensively." Dover pic...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Little Johns beat Lavaca 42-14DANVILLE — The Little Johns opened 2A-4 Conference play with a 42-14 win over the visiting Lavaca Golden Arrows on Friday night at Little John Stadium. Danville (2-1, 1-0), which has won the last two 2A-4 Conference championships, got three touchdowns from Preston Donnell and scored 35 unanswered against Lavaca (0-2, 0-1), which finally scored in the fourth quarter. Donnell connected with Juan Ponce on a 78-yard touchdown reception with nine m...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cyclones pound Rogers Heritage 43-20ROGERS -- Russellville Cyclones first-year head football coach Jeff Weaver got his first win at Russellville and 50th career win as the Cyclones defeated the Rogers Heritage War Eagles 43-20 on Friday at David Gates Stadium. Rogers Heritage (0-2) scored on the first offensive play of the game on a 78-yard touchdown run by Dylan Qualls, but the Cyclones (1-1) took a 26-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. Qualls' run trimmed just 24 second...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sand Lizards show Eagles no mercyPARIS — Back-to-back fumbles by the Paris Eagles on their first two possessions spelled doom as the Dardanelle Sand Lizards scored 42 unanswered points en route to a 49-7 non-conference win. The Eagles (1-1) routed Yellville-Summit 46-14 a week ago, but apparently they were in a giving mood in their home opener Friday night. Paris won the toss but fumbled the opening kickoff. Dardanelle (1-1) gladly took over at the Eagles 25 and took a 7-0 le...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Red Devils seek return to formATKINS -- A dinged-up Atkins Red Devils football team will have to steel themselves for the Bigelow Panthers on Friday at Panther Stadium. Atkins head coach Tommy Cody said his team laid it on the line during their 24-22 Rivals Cup loss to the Dover Pirates in Week 1. "We are very nicked up right now after Dover," Cody said. "That was a very physical game. We have guys who are going to be able to play but maybe aren't up to 100 percent. That c...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cyclones chase first victory on road at Rogers HeritageThe Russellville Cyclones will have to use their speed to compensate for their size disadvantage against the Rogers Heritage War Eagles on Friday. "Their size up front is a concern for us," Russellville head coach Jeff Weaver said. "We didn't run the ball much last week against Morrilton, but that front was more attacking and blitzing to disrupt the run. Rogers Heritage is just big. We are going to try and run them side to side. Get them tired...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Did you know?THE COURIER / Caitlin Whorton Ryan Talley's 8 catches for 145 yards against Morrilton last week was a career high in catches and receiving yards for the senior. The Cyclones are 2-1 against the Rogers Heritage War Eagles, who they play on Friday. Russellville has won the last two meetings and has outscored Heritage 51-13 in all three games between the two schools. The Cyclones are hoping to avoid starting the season 0-2 for the first time sinc...

Sand Lizards seek rebound against ParisDARDANELLE -- Sand Lizards head coach Phil Vega expects the Paris Eagles to have the talent advantage when the teams square off on Friday at Eagle Stadium, but he believes his team will win the battle in the trenches. "I think we have the advantage up front on offense and defense," the second-year head coach said. "We're going to be a little quicker than what Paris saw in Week 1, and offensively, I think we'll be a little better than their fro...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

8th grade Whirlwinds get victoryCourier sports staff The eighth grade Russellville Whirlwinds picked up a dominating 25-0 win over the eighth grade Morrilton Junior Devil Dogs on Thursday. The Whirlwinds defense held Morrilton to just 34 yards of offense and six first downs. Russellville introduced their new 3-4 defense, and several players contributed to the effort. Leading tacklers were Ty Hipps with three tackles and one sack. Shane Bucher had two tackles. Lucas McDougal ...

Planners updated on master planDetails on the Downtown Master Plan and Five-Year Update, as well as Arkansas Tech University's future plans for El Paso Avenue, were provided to members of the Russellville Planning Commission during their August regular meeting. Brad Lonberger of Gateway Planning in Rogers told commissioners they wanted to conduct a public hearing next month to consider an amendment to the city's zoning code. He was joined at the meeting by Daniel Hintz, fro...

Pirates hold off Red Devils, 24-22DOVER -- The Dover Pirates proved Friday night that two-point conversions can and do make a difference in their 24-22 victory over the Atkins Red Devils at Jack Berry Field. This year's Rivals Cup game began on a somber note when Survival Flight 7, accompanied by Doug McAlister, flew in the game ball and the Rivals Cup. On each side of the 50-yard line was a painted memorial -- one to Dawson McAlister, the Dover Pirate who died shortly before ...

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BY HEATHER SPRINKLE
For The CourierThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Junior Apaches beat Fountain Lake, 40-30POTTSVILLE -- The Junior Apaches defeated the Fountain Lake Junior Cobras 40-30 on Thursday at John Needham Stadium. Pottsville's (1-0) Elijah Bradley scored from 48 yards in the first quarter and added the 2-point conversion to go up 8-0. Fountain Lake answered in the second but couldn't pick up the 2-point conversion. Shaun McBride scored again in the second, followed by Christian Salazar to put the Junior Apaches up 24-6. Caden Hull pulled ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Cyclone Stadium gets record boardsTHE COURIER / Travis Simpson Cyclone Stadium gets record boards Diamond Bank in Russellville donated around $4,000 to install record boards for Russellville track and field. The record boards include all-time records for Russellville Middle School, Russellville Junior High and Russellville High School. They are located on the concession stand. Pictured are Diamond Bank loan officer Lacie Caughron and market president Philip Gray, Russellville ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Devil Dogs hold off Cyclones 21-20MORRILTON -- The Russellville Cyclones scored on their first two possessions of Friday night's Battle of I-40 and took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter. However, the Morrilton Devil Dogs scored 21 unanswered points to take a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter. Russellville answered with a touchdown with under three minutes left, but the point-after kick was blocked by Morrilton, and the Devil Dogs defeated the Cyclones 21-20 at Devil Dog Stad...